Fan Favorite - "The Watercooler"
Sep 18, 2026 · 37m
Summary
In 1986, Julie Williams died after drinking cyanide-laced water at her Arizona office, initially pointing suspicion toward her coworker’s stalker. Detective Mike Palmer investigated the poisoning, uncovering that the threat letters were actually a setup. The culprit was the coworker’s husband, Lewis, who poisoned the break room to kill his wife and frame the stalker for his own affair. Lewis was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Topics discussed
Introduction and sponsor reads
TD Cash Credit Card advertisement
Julie's background and new life in Arizona
Julie collapses at the office
Officer Scoville arrives and gathers initial info
The strange taste of the water
Progressive and Zocdoc advertisements
Detective Palmer identifies cyanide
Investigating the weekend access and suspects
Interviewing Diane and Lewis
The backstory involving Roy Fitzpatrick
Interrogating Roy Fitzpatrick
Glow Gummies advertisement
Julie's condition worsens and city panic
Interviewing Verbray and waiting for evidence
Finding the ID badge and Julie's death
Reconstruction of the poisoning event
The reveal: Lewis and Verbray's conspiracy
Outro, credits, and final sponsor
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